Bennett was born in Young, New South Wales and was educated at Young Superior Public School. He studied law, but when his father, owner of the Burrangong Argus newspaper, died, Bennett returned to the family newspaper as manager and editor, and then later owner after acquiring his mother's interest. Although Bennett's father had been conservative in his politics, Bennett was supportive of Labor and a long-rumoured potential Labor candidate. He was secretary of the Young Turf Club and Burrangong Turf Club for many years and was president of the Young branch of the Labor Party.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Bennett was elected to the House of Representatives at a 1912 by-election after the resignation of David Hall to serve as NSW Solicitor-General.[10] The Argus ceased publication in February 1913, with its assets sold to the Young Witness.[11] Bennett's term in parliament was short-lived, however, as an unfavourable electoral redistribution hampered his chances of re-election and he decided not to contest the 1913 federal election.[12][13][14]
Bennett was appointed a clerk in the New South Wales Registrar-General's Department in 1917 and retired from the department in 1936.[15][16] During the 1920s, he was president of the Public Service section of the Australian Clerical Association and the union's vice-president.[17][18] Bennett died in 1939 and was cremated at Rookwood Crematorium.[19][20]
^"MR. B. H. BENNETT". Evening News. No. 14, 039. New South Wales, Australia. 6 June 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Local Jottings". Wellington Times. No. 1436. New South Wales, Australia. 18 December 1902. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"LABOR LEAGUE NOTES". The Worker. Vol. 15, no. 4. New South Wales, Australia. 25 January 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Newsy Notes". Cowra Free Press. Vol. 33, no. 1, 776. New South Wales, Australia. 5 July 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Werriwa Election". The Inverell Times. Vol. 42, no. 5924. New South Wales, Australia. 4 June 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"PERSONAL". Barrier Miner. Vol. XXVI, no. 7712. New South Wales, Australia. 28 April 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Federal Elections". Freeman's Journal. Vol. LXIV, no. 3950. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1914. p. 20. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"THE CLERKS' UNION". The Labor Daily. No. 344. New South Wales, Australia. 27 February 1925. p. 3. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 676. New South Wales, Australia. 10 July 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
